India’s strength aimed at protecting values, not dominance: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, October 3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India’s rising military and economic power is driven not by an aspiration for dominance, but by a commitment to protect its cultural ethos, spiritual traditions, and the humane ideals of Lord Mahavira. He said this while addressing an event organised by the Jain International Trade Community (JITO) in Hyderabad on October 3.

Recalling key security operations, Rajnath Singh pointed to the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes, and this year’s Operation Sindoor as proof of India’s resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and citizens.

“Whenever India’s pride and dignity have been challenged, we have made no compromises. When we responded to the Pahalgam terror attack, we did not ask the dharma of the terrorists – we targeted terror, not civilians or military establishments,” he asserted.

Highlighting the progress in the defence sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the minister noted that India’s defence exports, which were about Rs. 600 crore in 2014, have surged to over Rs. 24,000 crore today. He expressed confidence that this figure would surpass Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029.

“From Tejas fighter jets to Akash missiles and Arjun tanks, our armed forces are increasingly being equipped with Made-in-India platforms,” Rajnath Singh said.

As part of the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, he cited the recent deal to procure 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with over 64 percent indigenous content.

“Today, India manufactures everything from toys to tanks. India is rapidly moving towards becoming the world’s manufacturing hub. The day is not far when India will be the Factory of the World,” he remarked.

Rajnath Singh also touched upon India’s economic trajectory, noting that the country is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. He said India is projected to achieve a GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030, making it the third-largest economy, and, according to IMF reports, is on track to become the world’s second-largest by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) by 2038.

Paying tribute to eminent Jain figures such as Vikram Sarabhai, D.S. Kothari, Jagdish Chandra Jain, and Meenakshi Jain, Rajnath Singh praised their contributions to the nation. He also highlighted government efforts to preserve Jain heritage, including the repatriation of over 20 stolen idols of Tirthankaras and the recognition of Prakrit as a classical language of India.

Urging citizens to draw inspiration from the teachings of Lord Mahavira, Rajnath Singh said values like non-violence, truth, and aparigraha (non-possessiveness) would guide India on its path to becoming a developed nation by 2047.